Calumet alumna graduates from U.S. Naval Academy

June 3, 2013

CALUMET - Jordan Kronshage was a member of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program all four years she attended Calumet High School, but her intention then wasn't to enter the military.

"My first intention was to get some kind of leadership experience," Kronshage said.

Kronshage eventually changed her mind about entering one of the military branches, and on April 24, she graduated as an ensign from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

In her junior year in 2008 at CHS, Kronshage said her parents heard about summer seminars at the Naval Academy and the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York state. She went to both seminars and was impressed.

"I decided, this is worth pursuing as far as applying to both places," she said. "West Point accepted me first."

However, Kronshage said she decided on the naval academy.

"I saw it as an opportunity to serve my country," she said.

Another factor in her decision to go to Annapolis was the fact doing so would have been unique for the area.

Although she chose the Navy, Kronshage said other than a trip on cruise ship after graduating from high school, her experience on the water was limited to small recreational water craft.

"I'd never been on a big boat, just a speed boat or a fishing boat," she said.

In order to be considered for the naval academy, Kronshage said a high GPA is required. Because she took Advanced Placement classes, she had a greater than 4.0 from CHS.

Besides the GPA, academy officials wanted candidates who were well-rounded people, and Kronshage said her experience at C-L-K helped her with that, also.

Kronshage said she was in the Public Schools of Calumet, Laurium & Keweenaw since kindergarten, an experience she enjoyed very much.

"Everyone knows everyone," she said.

During her high school years, Kronshage said she participated in several track and field sports, including pole vault, 300-meter hurdles, 100-meter hurdles, 4-by-800-meter run, 4-by-1-mile, 4-by-2-mile. In her senior year, she participated in long jump and volleyball. In 2006, she was part of the girls team, which won in the Upper Peninsula finals.

Her JROTC experience was especially important to her, Kronshage said.

"It was a very supportive group of people I got to know," she said. "I'm glad of where I came from."

Her experience at CHS gave her a solid background for attending Annapolis, Kronshage said.

She took part in varsity track and field all four years at the Naval Academy, also, Kronshage said, where she participated in pole vault. The team, which is a member of the Patriot League, attended the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I East Coast All-Conference meet. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to meet the minimum height requirement for the pole vault.

Currently, Kronshage is on what is called "basket leave" from the Navy. From June 24 to Aug. 10, she will be on temporary assignment back at the Academy doing what is called maintenance, or helping to fix whatever problems may arise in her particular building.

From Aug. 13 to January, Kronshage said she will be attending nuclear school in Charleston, S.C., then she will get an assignment.

"I picked submarines as my service selection," she said.

Getting a submarine will happen after she completes a 10-week submarine officer basic course, Kronshage said.

"Then I can pick my boat," she said.

Whether or not she'll make the Navy a career, Kronshage said she hasn't decided. She has committed to five years with the service.

"I'm going to see how the first five years go," she said. "As for now, I'm in for the long haul."